Improvement in book-shelves



S. A. SMITH. Book-Shelf.

No. 200,773. Patented Feb. 26,1878.

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N-FETER3, PHOWUTROGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SCOTT A. SMITH, OF PROVIDENCE; RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SHELVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,773, dated February 26, 1878; application filed June 29, 1877.

the same, is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

' Figures 1, 2, and 3 are front, side, and top views, respectively, of my invention, a portion of the frame being broken away.

My invention is more especially designedfor book-cases, although adapted for general use where adjustable shelves are required,

and relates to the means of securing and sustaining the same; and consists in the construction, arrangement, and operation of the adjustable shelf-rests, as hereinafter described.

In the book-cases now in usein connection with which I will, for convenience, describe my invention-the shelves rest upon crosswise bars or strips of wood, the ends of which are held by wooden racks in each inner corner of the case.

' In order to obtain the necessary strength, the teeth of the racks are made very coarse, and the bars or strips of wood of corresponding size, so that a nice adjustment of the shelves to the height of the books cannot be had.

In filling a case which is provided with the wooden racks and bars before mentioned, it almost invariably happens that one or more of the rows of books require a very slight elevation of the shelf above. This can be accomplished only by placing the cross-bar up one tooth in the rack, which, on account of the coarseness of the teeth, carries the shelf much higher than the height of the books requires, and not only occasions a loss of space, but mars the uniform appearance of the whole. Besides, the wooden rack teeth not infrequently break off, and render a proper adjustment of the shelves impossible.

In my invention I make two perpendicular grooves, A B, in each corner of the case, at right angles to each other, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Into the groove A I place and secure, by screws, staples, of other equivalent means, a fine-toothed metal rack, O.

D, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is a shelf-rest, having a perpendicular arm, E, working in the rack O, and a horizontal arm, F, extending into the case, and upon which the shelf rests. At right angles to the arm F is a short arm, G, extending into the groove B. To the arm G is attached a spring, H, which secures the engagement of the arm E with the rack C.

It will now be readily seen that a slight upward pressure of the hand will raise the rest D to any desired height, and that upon being released it will, actuated by the spring H, engage the raok O, and be firmly secured.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the standard having the grooves A B, the rack O, and the shelfrest D, the whole constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner substantially as described.

SCOTT A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

WALTER B. VINCENT, J 0s. T. Bron. 

